Caesars is fat to WeChat: Caesars Entertainment Corporation has debuted the prominent Chinese digital payment app WeChat Pay at 16 select locations inside Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas and The LINQ Promenade, becoming the first in the hospitality industry to offer this method in Las Vegas. In 2018, Caesars Entertainment will roll out WeChat to all outlets in Caesars Palace and to additional resorts within its portfolio.
Tech, powered by Expedia: Expedia has debuted Expedia Powered Technology, a toolkit of technology, marketing and data offerings aimed at hotel partners. The collection of products includes private label Packages, partner loyalty enrollment, MICE booking technology, TravelAds Direct and Rev+.
Atlanta’s AC Hotel sells: Atlanta’s brand new AC Hotel has sold for US$58 million. Atlanta’s Peachtree Hotel Group sold the property to an affiliate of real estate investment trust Summit Hotel Properties.
More from the Atlanta Business Chronicle
Spain’s investment levels soar: European hotel Investment transaction volumes totaled €9 billion (US$10.5 billion) in the first half of 2017 representing an increase of 6% year-on-year, according to the latest data from CBRE. Spain experienced an exceptional increase in hotel investment transaction levels which saw investment volumes soaring by 228% year-on-year and reaching over €2 billion (US$2.3 billion) for the first half of 2017, compared to the same period in the previous year. CBE says the strong market performance has been largely driven by Spain’s economic recovery, attractive asset pricing and availability, which is making Spain the most liquid hotel market in Q2 2017.
UK openings up: The first six months of 2017 have seen the highest number of hotel bedrooms opening in the UK since 2012, according to Hotel Bulletin Q2 2017, published this week by HVS, AlixPartners, STR and AM:PM. Growth in hotel RevPAR occurred in all but two UK cities; double-figure growth in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast; and London recording an 8% uplift demonstrates that international visitors are still coming to the UK on the back of a weaker pound and a number of high-profile events. The hotel sector is also well placed for further growth in visitor numbers with more than 7,500 new hotel bedrooms opening during the first half of 2017, up 40% on last year’s figures.